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Working group set up to cut climate change impact of asthma inhalers

NHS plans to help recover and recycle used asthma inhalers, and shift some patients towards lower carbon inhalers, could help reduce the health service’s carbon footprint.

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A 50% cut in the carbon footprint of inhalers would contribute 4% of the total carbon saving needed by the NHS to hit its target

A national working group has been set up to reduce the climate change impact of asthma inhalers and support the delivery of carbon emissions targets laid out in the ‘NHS Long Term Plan’.

The cross-sector expert working group is chaired by the government arms-length body, the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), which is jointly funded by NHS England and Public Health England, and includes representation from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The working group will review the evidence on potential options for reducing the level of climate change impact from inhalers, looking at packaging, propellants, plastics and metals used in production, with the aim of establishing a target and approach.

The long-term plan sets out aspirations to deliver the Climate Change Act target of a reduction in the health service’s carbon footprint of 34% by 2020 and 51% by 2025, and states that a shift to lower carbon inhalers will deliver a reduction of 4%.

The SDU says a 50% cut in the carbon footprint of inhalers would save 0.425 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, which is 4% of the total carbon saving needed by the NHS to hit its target.

The long-term plan also says pharmacists can support patients to reduce the use of short-acting bronchodilator inhalers and switch to DPIs where clinically appropriate.